Variable infantry armor system

ABSTRACT

AN ARMOR PROTECTIVE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROVIDING VARYING LEVELS OF PROTECTION AGAINST A VARIETY OF BALLISTIC HAZARDS CONSISTING OF A LIGHTWEIGHT, FRAGMENTATION-PROTECTIVE, SLEEVELESS JACKET HAVING SEPARATE POCKETS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF SAID JACKET INTO WHICH RIGID ARMOR PLATES ARE INSERTED TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION, SAID ARMOR PLATES HAVING INTEGRAL FASTENING MEANS WHICH ALLOW THE PLATES TO BE WORN WITHOUT THE JACKET.   D R A W I N G

,1 E. R. BARRb N EIAL 35 3 VARIABLE INFANTRY ARMOR SYSTEM Jan, 26

4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb 24 Jam -1971 Y E. R. BARRON ETAL 3,557,384

VARIABLE INFANTRY ARMOR SYSTEM Filed Feb/24, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet?fiy-flw; AW My. 141 W Bad pm a. 1 fla /303 s Jan. 26, 1971 I QN ETAL3,557,384

' VARIABLE INFANTRY ARMOR SYSTEM I Filed Feb. 24 1969 V 4-Sheets-Sheet sJan. 26, 1.971 B.ARRQII\IWET AL 3,557,384

. I VARIABLE INFANTRY ARMOR SYSTEM 1 Filed Feb.- 24, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheo4 United States Patent 3,557,384 VARIABLE INFANTRY ARMUR SYSTEM EdwardR. Barron, Framingham, Michael P. Carlucci,

Natick, Peter James, Brighton, Ralph Martone, Framingham, and Justin E.Walsh, Brookline, Mass., as-

signors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Army Filed Feb. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 801,301 Int. Cl. F41h /08 US.Cl. 22.5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An armor protective systemcapable of providing varying levels of protection against a variety ofballistic hazards consisting of a lightweight, fragmentation-protective,sleeveless jacket having separate pockets on the front and back of saidjacket into which rigid armor plates are inserted to increase the levelof protection, said armor plates having integral fastening means whichallow the plates to be worn without the jacket.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensedby or for the Government for governmental purposes without the paymentto us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to body armor and, more particularly, to a bodyarmor protective system wherein the wearer may. vary the extent and kindof protection against different ballistic projectiles.

Past efforts to provide the foot soldier with protection against theballistic hazards encountered in combat have been conspicuouslyunsuccessful because the weight of body armor required to provideadequate protection against hazards, such as small-arms fire, has beenof such a magnitude as to constitute an impossible burden. The additionof any equipment to the foot soldiers burden has to be carefullyconsidered as any increase in the weight of his burden results in acorresponding decrease in combat efficiency. Recent technologicaladvances in ballistic material have markedly reduced the weight of armormaterials which will successfully defeat fragments and small-armsprojectiles. Even with such advances in armor technology, modernsmall-arms defeating armor still presents a weight burden which at thevery least will seriously affect the efiiciency of the wearer and may,in fact, cause the wearer to become a casualty as a result of fatigue orheat exhaustion.

The degree of ballistic protection conferred by armor material is afunction both of the area covered and the material employed. It would bepossible, therefore, to compromise the area protected by reducing thesize of the armor so as to reduce the total weight of the armor.However, since different combat situations present different actual orpotential ballistic hazards, it would be desirable to have available anarmor system which would be adjusted by the wearer to meet theanticipated ballistic hazards. For example, if the ballistic hazards areexpected to be fragmentation projectiles, then a relatively lightweightarmor material will provide adequate protection. Experience hasdemonstrated that fragmentation projectiles are likely to strike fromany direction, making it desirable, therefore, to protect all aspects ofthe torso of the foot soldier. Since complete protection would beimpractical, it has been decided that adequate protection against suchhazards means protection to the torso. A sleeveless jacket would providethe necessary protection to the torso. On the other hand, if small-armsprojectiles are the anticipated hazard, then relatively heavy armorPatented Jan. 26, 1971 must be employed. In order to use such heavyarmor, it is necessary to effect a compromise by restricting the area tobe protected to the vital organs of the torso.

It is the object of this invention to provide an armor system suitablefor the foot soldier which will provide him with protection against theballstic hazards of combat. Another object of this invention is toprovide an armor system which will not unduly diminish the effectivenessof the wearer. And, it is the object of this invention to provide anarmor system, the level of protection of which can be varied to defeatthe anticipated ballistic hazards in the most effective way possible.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by an armor protectivesystem comprising a flexible, sleeveless, fragmentation-protectivejacket and a pair of rigid, anatomically contoured, small'armsprotective, ballistic armor plates. The jacket is designed to be wornalone to provide protection against fragments from grenades, shells andmines. The small-arms protective armor plates are designed to be carriedin pockets located on the front and back of the jacket to increase thelevel of protection to the vital organs in the thoracic cavity. Thesmall-arms protective armor plates also contain integral fastening meanswhich will permit them to be supported and worn about the torso of thewearer without the fragmentation-protective jacket. It is obvious,therefore, that the jacket, when worn alone, provides protection againstfragments. The armor plates, when worn alone, provide protection againstfragments and small-arms projectiles to very limited areas of the torsoand that when the armor plates are worn in combination with the jacketthere is provided fragmentation protection to the torso and smallarmsprotection to the vital organs in the torso.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention which should not be deemed to limit the scope of our inventionto any particular dimension, proportion or similar details showntherein.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the fragmentation-protective jacket ofthis invention with small-arms protective plates inclosed within pocketson said jacket.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the jacket of FIG. 1 with the pocket flapsopen and the waistbands extending to each side of the jacket.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the front, small-arms protective armorplate.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the back, small-arms protective armorplate.

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the front and back plates in assembledrelationship.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section showing the attachment of the shoulderstraps of the front and back plates.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the garment ofFIG. 1.

More particularly, the armor-protective system of the present inventionconsists of a fragmentation-protective jacket and a pair of rigid,anatomically contoured smallarms protective armor plates. The plates maybe worn separately or in combination with the jacket.

The jacket 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2'and 3 is a sleeveless garmentadapted to completely inclose the upper torso of the wearer from thewaist to the neck. This jacket 10 is constructed of a front portion 11and a back portion 12, which portions are joined together at eachshoulder region. At the one shoulder 13, the two portions are shownstitched permanently together and at the other shoulder 14, the twoportions are connected by adjustable and quickly releasable shoulderconnecting means, e.g., a flexible shoulder strap 15, adjustable inlength, one end of which is stitched to the back portion 12 and theother end is attached to the front portion by means of a pair of snapfasteners 16, the female portions of which are fixed to the strap andthe male portions to the jacket. Each portion of the jacket isconstructed as shown in FIG. 8 of an outer fabric layer 17 of nylonballistic cloth and an inner layer 18 of the same material with the twolayers being stitched together along their respective edges. Within andco-extensive with the inner and outer layers of the front and backportions of the jacket is a nylon, ballistic felt material 19 encasedwithin a waterproof vinyl covering 20 of suitable thickness, e.g., 4mils. The nylon ballistic cloth is a tightly woven, nylon fabric such asthat described in military specification MIL-C-l2369D(GL), entitledCloth, Ballistic, Nylon. The nylon ballistic felt is a needle punchedfelt such as that described in US. Pat. No. 3,320,619 and for purposesof this invention, is a felt having an areal density of 6 oz. per squarefoot which will provide protection against grenade, mine and shellfragments. The V ballistic limit of the jacket of this invention is ofthe order of 1,250 feet per second. V in this instance, is the impactvelocity at which there is a 50% probability of penetration by a 17grain, caliber .22 fragment simulator.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown on the exterior surface of the frontportion of the jacket, a large fabric front pocket 21. This pocket isconstructed of ballistic nylon cloth which is stitched to the outerfabric layer of the jacket. There is an opening 22 into the pocket atthe bottom thereof as shown in FIG. 3 which can be closed by means of afront pocket flap 23 stitched to the outer fabric layer and adapted tobe folded over the pocket opening. The flap 23 is releasably attached tothe pocket by releasable fastener means such as a nylon hook and pilefastener. A strip of pile tape 25, the width of the pocket, is fastenedto the outside surface of the pocket parallel with and adjacent to itsbottom edge. A strip of hook tape 24, full width of the flap andfastened on the outer surface of the flap, as shown in FIG. 3, isadapted to engage the pile tape when the flap is folded over the frontpocket opening. A strip of pile material 26 is placed on the undersideof the flap for a purpose to be disclosed.

On the exterior of the back portion of the jacket shown in FIGS. 2 and3, there is a large, fabric back pocket 27 similar in construction tothe front pocket and having an opening into the pocket at the bottomthereof. The opening 28 into the pocket 27 is closed by a flap 29 whichis adapted to be folded over to cover the pocket opening. Separablefastener means, such as a strip of pile tape 30 fastened to the outsideof the back pocket and a strip of hook tape 31 mounted on the flap,close the pocket when the flap is folded over the pocket and the stripsof hook and pile material are pressed together.

The front and back portions of the jacket are held in place about thetorso by means of a pair of overlapped and releasably fastened fabricwaistbands 32 and 33. Each fabric waistband is elastically connected tothe back portion by heavy elastic bands 34 which permit the jacket togive or be displaced to accommodate body movements. Each of thewaistbands is of sufficient length to permit their respective ends tooverlap in front of the front portion 11. The overlapped waistband 32has a strip of hook tape 35 on its inner surface which engages the stripof pile tape 26 on the exterior of the fabric pocket, and also has astrip of pile tape 36 on its outer surface. The overlapping waistbandhas a strip of hook tape 37 on its inner surface which releasablyengages pile tape 36 of the overlapped waistband.

The jacket is donned by dropping the structure over the head of thewearer. The right shoulder strap is adjusted to achieve a comfortablefit and the waistbands 32 and 33 are drawn around the body of the wearerand into overlapping relationship in front of the front portion 11 ofthe jacket. The jacket is thereby held securely to the torso of thewearer providing protection against the certain ballistic fragments.

The small-arms protective ballistic armor plates used in the presentinvention are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. These plates are intended toprotect those areas of the body covered thereby against penetration bycaliber .30 ball projectiles, as well as their equivalent and againstpenetration by fragments from shells, grenades and mines weighing up to225 grains and having a velocity up to 2,100 feet per second. Thepreferred amor plate material for this purpose is a ceramic-fiber glasscomposite, as shown in FIG. 7, wherein the facing or outward componentis a one-piece aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or boron carbide ceramicstructure 42 bonded by an adhesive 43 to a fiber glass laminate backuplayer 44. The fiber glass laminate is a resin-impregnated, multilayer,fiber glass fabric with the resin content being in the range of 20% toby weight. The maximum areal density of this type of armor plate is lessthan 9 lbs. per square foot and preferably less than 7 lbs. per squarefoot. Because of the weight of this armor material, the body area beingprotected must be reduced to the absolute minimum. Therefore, the platesof this invention are designed to cover only the anterior and posterioraspects of the vital organs, i.e., heart, lungs and aorta, in thethoracic cavity.

The front armor plate shown in FIG. 4 is, as has been noted, a one-piececeramic fiber glass composite with the ceramic layer being outermostwith respect to the wearer. A spall cover 41, consisting of a layer oftightly woven ballistic nylon adhesively bonded to the ceramic face 42,reduces ceramic fragment splatter resulting from the impact of a highvelocity projectile against the hard ceramic face. The armor plate isanatomically contoured to closely conform to the natural contour of thechest and the top portion 45 of the armor has a downward curve to permitunhindered movements of the neck. The upper half of the plate isnarrower in width than the lower half so as not to restrict armmovements.

The front armor plate is provided with integral fastening means whichpermit this plate to be worn without the fragmentation-protectivejacket. Extending above the top of the plate are spaced-apart shoulderwebbing straps 46 which are attached to the back surface of the plate byan adhesive 47. Flexible fabric shoulder straps 48 are stitched-fastenedto the shoulder webbing straps 46 with each strap having affixed theretoa non-slip buckle 49. The free ends of the shoulder straps may be joinedtogether behind the neck of the wearer by means of a suitable bucklefastener, not shown, or the free ends may be fastened to strap bucklesattached to a load carrying suspender, commonly worn by combat troops. Awide band 50 of pile tape is adhesively attached to the face of thefront armor plate with the pile surface outwards. This band extendstransversely across the width of the armor plate adjacent to the loweredge. A flexible fabric waistbelt 51 of sutficient length to encirclethe torso of the wearer, is attached at one end to the front surface ofthe front armor plate. On the underside of the free end of the waistbeltthere is a band of hook type material 52 which is adapted to releasablyengage the band of pile tape 50 when the waistbelt has been drawn aboutthe torso of the wearer and its free end pressed against the pilesurface 50. This waistbelt serves to hold the front armor plate firmlyin place against the torso of the wearer and to prevent shiftingmovements thereof in response to torso movements.

The back armor plate 55 shown in FIG. 5 is a similar one piececeramic-fiber glass composite having a spall cover attached to theceramic face. The back plate is also anatomically contoured to fitagainst the back of the wearer and is narrower in width near the top soas not to cover body areas requiring maximum articulation such as theshoulder blades. The shoulder strap assembly is adhesively attached tothe inside surface of the back plate at each shoulder region. Theassembly consists of shoulder Webbing straps 56 which are attached tothe armor plate and flexible shoulder straps 57 which are stitched atone end to the respective webbing straps. On the exterior surface of theback armor plate, there is attached a band 61 of pile fastener tape toserve a purpose disclosed hereafter.

When it is intended to wear the front and back armor plates togetherwithout the fragmentation-protective projectile, the two plates areconnected by threading the shoulder straps 57 of the back armor platethrough the respective non-slip buckles 49 on the shoulder straps 48 ofthe front armor plate. This attachment is accomplished by sequentiallydrawing the end of each strap 57 under the non-slip buckle 49, throughits forward slot 58, over the buckle ridge 59, through the back slot 60and then out from under the buckle. The two plates 40 and 55, connectedby the shoulder straps, are donned by lowering the plates over the headand torso until the straps rest on the shoulders of the wearer. Thelength of each strap is adjusted by drawing or withdrawing the shoulderstraps through the buckles until the plates are properly positioned. Atthis point, the free end of the waistbelt 51 is drawn around the body ofthe wearer overlapping first the back armor plate and then the frontarmor plate. The band '53 of hook pile fastener tape attached to theinside surface of the waistbelt releasably engages the pile fasteningtape 61 on the back armor plate and the free end of the waistbelt ispressed against the front of the front plate to fasten its hook tape 52to the front plates fastener tape 50. Both plates are now locked to thewaistbelt and held tightly against the torso such that they will notslide or shift under the waistbelt nor about the torso.

Having described the components of our variable, armor-protectivesystem, let us now consider the manner in which they may be employed toprovide the desired ballistic protection. The wearer will, of course, berequired to pay a physiological price for the protection afforded bybody armor and it is essentially, therefore, that the system be one thatcan realistically provide a desired or necessary level of protectionwithout at the same time destroying the wearers effectiveness or beingthe direct cause of his becoming a casualty. The additional weight ofbody armor requires an additional expenditure of energy and aconcomitant increase in caloric output. Furthermore, covering portionsof the body with armor reduces the body aea available for heat loss. Itis obvious, therefore, that when considering the utilization of bodyarmor, one must necessarily consider the undesirable physiologicalconsequences of such utilization, namely, fatigue or heat exhaustion.

With the present system, if the combat hazards are expected to befragment, then the jacket may be worn without armor plates. The jacketimposes no restriction on mobility, weighs approximately 6 lbs. andcovers approximately 5.75 sq. ft. of the torso which is approximately25% of the body area. In the event that smallarms fire is expected inaddition to fragments, then either the front armor plate or both thefront and back armor plates may be inserted in their respective jacketpockets. Each plate covers approximately 1.2 sq. ft. of the front andback aspects of the torso and is positioned over the thoracic cavity.The combination of jacket and front armor plate weighs in excess of 13lbs. and the combination of jacket and the front and back armor platesweighs in excess of lbs. The jacket and front plate only may, however,be worn to advantage in certain tactical situations whereas in othersituations, it will be necessary to use both plates with the jacket. Inthe event that the only hazards anticipated are those resulting fromsmall arms fire, it would be necessary to wear only the front armorplate or the combination of front and back armor plates. The use ofarmor. plates without the fragmentation-protective jacket is alsoindicated in certain tropical situations where the presence of theimpermeable jacket would so reduce the ability of the body to dissipateheat that the wearer develop a body heat level that would render him animmediate casualty.

While a preferred form of the variable armor system of this inventionhas been described, it is to be understood that this invention is notlimited to this form and to the materials described, and that certainchanges may be made therein without departing from the scope of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An armor protective system capable of providing varying levels ofballistic protection to the upper torso of the wearer, comprising aflexible, sleeveless, fragmentation-protective jacket adapted tocompletely enclose the torso of the wearer from the waist to the neck,said jacket formed of a front portion and a separate back portion andhaving means associated therewith which join said front and backportions together at the shoulder region, at least one of saidconnecting means being quickly releasable and adjustable, said front andback portions each having an exterior fabric covering and separateinterior fabric covering joined together at their respective edges andhaving within said fabric covering and co-extensive therewith aflexible, fragmentation-resistant material, a pair of transverselydisposed fabric waistbands attached to said back portion adapted toextend around the body of the wearer to overlap in front of said frontportion and having releasable fastening means associated therewith tohold the overlapping ends of said waistbands together, said front andback portions having attached to the exterior thereof respectively afront fabric pocket and a back fabric pocket, each of said pocketshaving an opening at the bottom thereof and a releasable closure meansassociated respectively therewith to close said pockets, each of saidpockets adapted to receive a rigid, anatomically contoured small-armsprotective ballistic armor plate.

2. An armor protective system according to claim 1 having elasticconnective means joining said waistbands to said back portion.

3. An armor protective system according to claim 2 having a [flexiblewaterproof covering inclosing said flexible, fragmentation-resistantballistic material which is nylon felt.

4. An armor protective system according to claim 3 wherein saidreleasable fastening means holding the end portions of said waistbandstogether and said releasable closing means for said pockets consists ofopposed strips of hook and pile fastener material.

5. An armor protective system according to claim 4 wherein the; innersurface of said waistbands when overlapped and in contact with saidfront pocket carries means for attaching said waistbands to said frontpocket.

6. An armor protective system according to claim 1 wherein a rigid,anatomically contoured, small-arms protective ballistic armor frontplate is retained within said front fabric pocket to shieldsubstantially all of the thoracic cavity and a portion of the upperabdominal cavity of the wearer.

7. An armor system according to claim 6 wherein a rigid, anatomicallycontoured, small-arms protective ballistic armor back plate is retainedwithin said back fabric pocket to shield substantially all of thethoracic-lumbar region of the back of the wearer.

8. An armor protective system according to claim 7 wherein said armorfront plate has a pair of spaced-apart shoulder straps attached to theupper end thereof which are adapted to lie across the shoulders of thewearer and said armor back plate as a pair of spaced-apart shoulderstraps attached to its upper end which are adapted to be adjustablyfastened to said front shoulder straps and to support said front andback plates over the shoulders of the wearer, said front plate havingone end of a flexible fabric waistbelt attached thereto, said waistbeltbeing of sufficient length to encircle the body of the wearer and toextend in front of said front plate and having waistbelt fastening meansassociated with the free end of said waistbelt and the exterior of saidfront plate to releasably attach the free end of said Waistbelt to saidfront plate to hold said front plate in place.

9. An armor protective system according to claim 8 wherein said backarmor plate has back plate fastening means attached to the externalsurface thereof, adapted to be engaged by fastening means on the innersurface of the portion of said waistbelt overlapping said back armorplate, said attachment of said back armor plate to said waistbandserving to hold said back armor plate in a fixed position against theback of the wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,422 2/ 1918 Anderson 22.5

2,717,437 9/1955 De Mestral 2Velcro Digest 3,444,033 5/1969 King161-404XR 3,452,362 7/1969 Korolick et a1. 22.5

FOREIGN PATENTS [535,782 4/1941 England 22.5

864,844 2/1941 France 22.5

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner GEORGE H. KRIZMANICH, AssistantExaminer

